Terms & Conditions
Last updated: June 2026
These terms and conditions ("Terms") set out the basis on which South West Tree Care ("we", "us", "our") provides tree surgery and grounds maintenance services to you, our customer ("you", "your"). By accepting a quotation from us or instructing us to carry out work, you agree to these Terms. Please read them carefully.
1. About us
South West Tree Care is a trading name of South West Tree Care" if a sole trader, or "South West Tree Care Ltd"].
Our principal trading address is Middlecroft Farm, Clawton, Holsworthy, Devon EX22 6PL, with a further office at Fore Street Court, Tintagel, Cornwall PL34 0EF. You can contact us on 07597 018 275 or at
2. Definitions
"Services" means the tree surgery, hedge, stump, ground clearance or related works described in our quotation. "Site" means the property or land where the Services are to be carried out. "Quotation" means the written estimate of price and scope we provide to you.
3. Quotations
All quotations are based on the condition of the trees, hedges and site at the time of our inspection and are valid for [30] days unless stated otherwise. A quotation is an estimate of the work we expect to carry out; it does not form a binding contract until accepted in accordance with clause 4. If site conditions, access or the scope of work differ materially from those at the time of quoting, we reserve the right to revise the price after discussing it with you.
4. Forming the contract
A binding contract is formed when you accept our quotation in writing (including by email or text message), verbally, or by allowing us to begin work. At that point these Terms apply in full.
5. Prices, deposits and payment
- Prices are as set out in the quotation. Unless stated otherwise, prices include VAT.
- We may require a deposit before work begins, particularly for larger jobs.
- Payment is due at the end of the job for domestic, Commercial work is 14 days unless agreed otherwise in writing. We accept bank transfer / cash.
- We reserve the right to charge interest on overdue accounts at the rate permitted under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, for business customers, and to recover reasonable costs of collection.
6. Your responsibilities
To allow us to carry out the Services safely and efficiently, you agree to:
- Confirm that you are the owner of the trees and land, or that you have the owner's authority to instruct the work;
- Provide safe and reasonable access to the Site, including for vehicles, equipment and the removal of waste;
- Make us aware of the location of any underground or overhead services (water, gas, electricity, drainage, telecoms), private pipes, cables, septic tanks, soakaways or other hidden features;
- Mark or make clear any boundaries, and obtain any necessary consent from neighbours where work affects their property or requires access to their land;
- Remove or protect any vehicles, garden furniture, pets or other items from the working area.
7. Permissions and protected trees
It is your responsibility to tell us if any tree is subject to a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), stands within a Conservation Area, or is otherwise legally protected. Where you ask us to, we can apply for the necessary consent on your behalf, but we cannot carry out protected work until the relevant local authority permission has been granted. We accept no liability for any penalty arising from work carried out on protected trees where the required consent was not in place and we were not informed.
8. Protected wildlife
Many species — including nesting birds and bats — and their habitats are protected by law. If protected species or active nests are discovered during the course of the work, we may be obliged to stop or postpone the Services until it is lawful and safe to continue. Any resulting delay or change in price is outside our control.
9. Our standard of work
We will carry out the Services with reasonable care and skill, by suitably qualified and experienced operatives, and in accordance with recognised arboricultural practice (including BS 3998 where applicable). We hold public liability insurance; details are available on request.
10. Site conditions and hidden hazards
We cannot be held responsible for damage caused by hidden or unmarked services, structures or defects of which we were not made aware, or which could not reasonably have been identified before work began. Decay, disease or structural weakness within a tree is not always visible from the outside.
11. Waste and arisings
Unless your quotation states otherwise, all timber, brash and arisings remain your property and will be left on Site. Where we agree to remove waste, this is included in the quoted price. Logs and wood chip cut to a usable size remain available to you unless agreed otherwise.
12. Variations and additional work
Any work beyond the scope of the quotation will be agreed with you and may be charged in addition. We will not carry out chargeable additional work without your agreement, except where it is immediately necessary to make the Site or a tree safe.
13. Cancellation, rescheduling and weather
Tree work is weather-dependent. We reserve the right to reschedule the Services where conditions make the work unsafe, and we will not be liable for delays caused by weather or other circumstances beyond our control.
Consumer cancellation rights: If you are a consumer and the contract was made at your home or away from our business premises, you have the right to cancel within 14 days under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, without giving a reason. To cancel, contact us using the details above. If you ask us to begin work within the 14-day cancellation period, you may be required to pay for the work carried out up to the point of cancellation.
14. Liability
We will be responsible for loss or damage you suffer that is a foreseeable result of our breach of these Terms or our negligence. We are not responsible for loss or damage that is not foreseeable, or for damage caused by factors outside our reasonable control. Nothing in these Terms limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, for fraud, or for any other liability that cannot lawfully be limited. For business customers, our total liability in connection with any contract is limited to [the value of that contract / the cover provided by our insurance].
15. Trees are living things
Trees, hedges and other plants are living organisms whose future condition cannot be guaranteed. We cannot warrant that a tree will not fail, decline, regrow or be affected by disease following our work, and we accept no liability for natural regrowth or for the future behaviour of any tree or plant.
16. Complaints
If you are unhappy with any aspect of our Services, please contact us as soon as possible using the details above so that we can put things right.
17. Data protection
We process your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
18. Governing law
These Terms are governed by the law of England and Wales, and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
19. Contact us
South West Tree Care — Middlecroft Farm, Clawton, Holsworthy, Devon EX22 6PL. Telephone: 07597 018 275. Email:
